Cosleeping is a perfect option for a mother who wants to keep their new baby close to them. I coslept with my two older children until they were nearly a year old. Even now they often end up in our bed at some point during the night. I currently cosleep with my new born baby girl, but before her birth I looked at various cosleeper options that attach to the side of a bed. Safety for my new baby was the primary concern, because even four people in a king size bed is tight at times. A baby who sleeps in a bed with young children who move around during the night could be in danger. A sturdy cosleeper can cost a few hundred dollars, and if you are on a budget it likely is not the best way to spend money.
One afternoon, about a month before I gave birth, I happened to see a friend’s master bedroom, and attached to her bed was their full-sized crib. I thought the idea was brilliant, because it was a safe cosleeping option, and also I did not have to spend a dime. My husband and I detached the front rail of our crib, and we adjusted the mattress of the crib to match up perfectly with our bed mattress. We used clamps from the local home improvement store to secure the crib to the frame of our king size bed underneath the two beds. The crib did not separate from our bed when we tested it. I had my two older children jump up and down on the crib to see if it would come loose, but it took the abuse without moving an inch.
My newborn baby is now two months old, and I am very pleased with our crib as a cosleeper. It is larger than any cosleeper you can buy, and when you have up to five people in a bed it is added safety for a new little one. Cosleeping with a regular crib has a drawback in that it is more difficult to get in and out of that side of the bed, and making the bed is more strenuous, but I would rather deal with that and have the added benefit of the cosleeper. I feel it is a great option for those who do not want to spend extra money on a commercial cosleeper.
Disclaimer: The topic of cosleeping is controversial. Many countries around the world outside of the United States practice cosleeping without problems. Cosleeping is a choice for mothers, but is not the best option for everyone. This post is not intended to discuss every pro or con associated with cosleeping. The advice and information contained herein is provided in good faith, but the accuracy of any statements is not guaranteed. It is the responsibility of readers to research information, and make their own decisions on the actions taken from such information. We expressly assume no liability for reliance of any information provided in this post or blog that results in damage, physical injury, or mental distubances to people, animals or property.